Moo-sical Chairs

25092012

The challenge of providing for nature within our cities

Not enough chairs at the moment for us both

As “development” progresses we often see the challenge of providing for nature within our cities. Whether it be small creatures or large they must feel like we humans are playing a game of musical chairs with them. Each season they would be heading off to where they were able to get great food and shelter the year before to only find that there is a new concrete building in the way or a high fence that they cannot get round. As their space is reduced they are forced into areas that some people might think are not appropriate for them to be and this stresses out both the creature and the human.

As a lover of animals (which comes for living on a dairy farm as a child) I would love to see our large animals in Hong Kong better provided for. Whether it is the barking deer in our country parks, the cows of Sai Kung or the buffalo of Lantau they all could do with some support. The key is providing real opportunities for people to see these wonderful animals going about their normal day. No I do not mean that they should be in a park where they have to perform certain tricks to entertain or “educate” us, rather just doing what they naturally do. On Lantau Island that would be letting buffalo wallow in the mud and for the cows the ability to roam among the fields eating grass.

How does this help people?

They get to see that these big animals are:
– no more aggressive than humans
– live a very good family life caring for each other, and
– do amazing things that show they are intelligent

They can also see how life cycles work such as:
– being born, growing up, getting old and dying,
– how the food waste from the animals is a food source for insects and helps provide healthy soil to grow food for humans

So what can you do?

Well if you are yet to see a cow or buffalo walking freely then go visit some. Be prepared to stand back and just watch them for a while before you start to see them interacting with each other and enjoying life. Once you have made that connection with them you might like to support community groups that are looking after the interests of the large animals. Talk to your neighbours about the experience and try to establish safer areas for these animals in your community. Feel free to post examples you know of around Hong Kong.